Mariners claim Little League AAA championship

WEST BOYLSTON — Strong pitching and timely hitting propelled the Mariners to the Boylston/West Boylston Little League AAA championship on Saturday afternoon.

The Mariners took a 13-7 decision from the Reds at Richard Townsend Field at Goodale Park to sweep the best-of-three championship series 2-0. Last Thursday, the top seeded Mariners defeated the fifth-seeded Reds 9-2 in the first game of the series.

Mariners ace Jack Rice started Saturday's game and held the Reds to two runs (one earned) and two hits over three innings, while striking out five batters.

Mike Vangos hurled the fourth and fifth frames in relief for the Mariners, surrendering five runs (three earned) on five hits, while fanning four.

Shane Gardiner started for the Reds and also pitched well, allowing just three hits, while striking out six. Jared Moulton entered the game in relief in the fourth inning and pitched the rest of the game.

The Reds got on the scoreboard first by scoring twice in the home half of the first inning. Hayden Sauriol opened the frame with an infield hit. The next three batters — Luke Foley, Brian Brimner and Gardiner — all drew walks, forcing in a run.

Foley scored on a sacrifice fly to left field by Moulton.

Trailing 2-0, the Mariners scored a solo run in the top of the second inning on a double by Ryan Kozolowski, a passed ball and an error.

The Mariners then exploded for five runs in the top of the third frame.

Josh Olson got things started by drawing a walk. The next batter was Rice and he singled to left field.

A walk to Cam Wester, two errors, and three fielder's choices accounted for the five runs.

After scoring solo runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to take a 8-2 lead, the Mariners put the game away in the top of the sixth by scoring five times. The big hit for the Mariners in the inning was a two-RBI double by Kozlowski.

Prior to that, the Reds made things interesting in the bottom of the fifth with a five-run outburst.

With one out, Sauriol reached first base on an infield hit. Sauriol advanced to second on an error and went to third on a wild pitch.

Brimner plated Sauriol with an infield single. An error, a walk and singles by Gardiner, Nate Conti and John Edwards brought four more runs across the plate.

The Mariners were led by Kozlowski, who went 3 for 4 with two RBIs. Rice had two hits, and Jake Olson contributed a double.

Sauriol and Conti led the Reds with two hits each.

The defensive gem of the game was turned in by the Reds in the fifth inning when they pulled off a triple play.

"This was a very competitive game and we were able to get out to a good start," Mariners manager Tony Pirro said. "The Reds came back and made it very interesting at the end.

"The pitching was great, and Jack Rice has been our ace all year," he said. "The league was real good this year with a lot of parity.

"Hats off to the Reds for making this a very good (championship) series," Pirro added.

Reds manager Mo Edwards was equally impressed with his team and the league this season.

"We had a great year and the kids learned a lot this year," Edwards said. "I am really proud of these guys. We came from the fifth spot to second place and that was really something to be proud of."